We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sophie Adamson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sophie, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

As a kid, I was convinced I would be a ballerina. Watching Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” touched my heart, so my mum enrolled me into a ballet class on Saturdays. I hated it. From the chain-smoking teacher to the gossiping students, the itchy costumes, and the ash covered floor. It became more of a chore than a hobby. I quit.

That was the first of many things I quit, much to my parents’ dismay. My family are working class and money was always tight, but I was young, naïve, and “prone to the whims”. One thing I had always enjoyed was writing. Poetry, stories, music. I hid my words in a guitar case and moved on to the next ”whim”.

Walking my dog one summer during the pandemic, I bumped into an old ballet classmate’s mother. She was tipsy and she asked what I was doing with my life. I told her that I was on my second degree. A masters in languages. She replied, “I almost didn’t recognise you. You were always such a wallflower.”

That hit a nerve. Was I really always just a decoration on other people’s walls? Had I really just wasted my younger years being a side character? Being so indecisive that all the opportunities had disappeared, and nobody knew I had a guitar case full of songs and a voice that wanted to be heard.

I grabbed the unfinished songs, contacted a wonderful friend to help get them off the page, and headed to the recording studio. “Better late than never” I repeated to myself, not looking back. I would say the same to anybody, at any age!

Looking back at all the years of doubt about whether my songs were good enough seem silly now. Even if they aren’t Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”, they are there and they are written, so what would be the point in shoving them in a guitar case for nobody to see?

I don’t regret the years with the hidden songs because just like a wall flower, everyone blooms at their own pace. It would be boring if we all figured everything out at sixteen. Ideas come with maturity and sometimes, after many whims.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Sophie Adamson and I am a songwriter/singer from the North West of England.

I write songs about identity, religion, mythology, and coming-of-age in an often, cruel world.

Inspired by Kate Bush, Aurora, and Florence and the Machine, my music is lyrically deep and filled with metaphors. It’s for those of us who feel like outsiders, and bask in the magic of storytelling.

My first EP is out in January with 3 singles already in the aether (on all music platforms).

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

It is an age-old tale that art should not only belong to the rich. That only gives the world half a story. A sugar-coated version of the story. More support needs to be in place for working-class creatives and those from minority backgrounds. The industry is difficult enough to navigate through without others gatekeeping the door in.

We should always offer a helping hand, if not financially, then creatively to those who want a way into the industry. That way, everyone has a chance to use their voice and tell a unique story that others maybe haven’t heard before.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In my late teens, I attended a music school where I took a performance course. Live performance was prioritised above all else. It’s what will make you the most money as an up-and-coming artist, after all.

I always wrote poetry and thoroughly enjoyed the creative side of making music and art. If I’d’ve known this earlier, I wouldn’t have been in such a rush to get on stage.

The process of finding yourself in the industry can be just as exciting as the results. As creatives, I believe it is important to find what makes you happy and do that before taking the well-worn path.

There are many ways to make music nowadays and you should approach the process in whatever way works best for you. Whether that be on stage, in the recording studio, or a bit of both.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @SophieAdamsonMusic
• Twitter: @_SophieAdamson_
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3HnvXb0A8wGrPcM1uuT6Er?si=D3WCpUGmSCCs_F3Bj_C1rg

Image Credits
Lucy Allen – photographer